Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-04-07


We can surely say the Lords Prayer,
every one of us.
Then LILA knelt down, her white
bird upon her shoulder, and her cheeks
gaining a little of their natural color IN
the elevation of the moment.
They commenced with the first words
of that prayer-the most eloquent and
comprehensive one in the whole world
and without one exception, the other
voices added their quota of sound.
Those who had forgotten it, or, it may
be. had never known it, following after,
word by word.
1t was n solemn and touching scene,
never to be forgotten by those who were
participants in it.
After they had risen from their knees
again, a sudden cry broke from Lila
lips, and looking towards her, to the
surprise Of all the cause was seen. The
pet pigeon had broken link of its de-
tanning chain, and had fiuttered off into
the blue sky which arched above in o
seeming sunny mockery of their desc
late state.
"My bird has deserted mel was
Lilla's pathetic cry. And tears, which
suffering had failed to call TO her eyes,
filled them now"
Don't cry, little one. You've kept
up SO far, and if you give way, there's
not a man of us but will blubber too.
Don't set US bad example now,
With brave effort Lila controlled
herself But she could not put the sor-
row for her bird out Of her heart She
kept thinking to herself.
Now | can never do my duty and
send the billet"
Strange that at such a time She could
bear anything in her mind but her own
sut1eringl But so it was, and it added
a keener pang to the loss of her pet.
But marvellous to relate, when the
! MONDAY sun was glaling down upon
the furnished group, white speck APP
| peared in the sky, and coming nearer,
soon attracted attention. Then, in a
! few seconds it came ilutterng down,
with a COO Of content and alighted up
on Lilla's shoulder
1t seemed to their wondering eyes
| like spirit.
lit is a good omen!' was whispered
around among them. ''God has not
forgotten u.s.
And inspired by this thought the
sailors again turned their dim eyes
across the broad cXpanso Of waters to
see if any sign of life should appear in
sight.
Several hours went by, and then a
dim spot appeared in the distance. ii
grew more distinct and at l,et proved
to be brig bearing down towards
them
o. that the man on the lookout
should see the signal raised by the dis
tressed crew The suspense was sick
ening, but at last to certainty they
were observed, for the brig hoye-to and
lowered her boats, which, manned by
a competent crew. were soon propelled
towards thtm. They were reached af-
ter a time, and were taken on board
Now comes the wonderful part Of our
story.
The man mt the wheel was steering in
an entirely opposite direction from the
one which would have brought his YES
sci to the relief Of the shipwrecked crew
when a white bird flew against his face,
and fluttcrcd its wings in such a way
that the astonished sailor did not dare
to open his eyes while the assault con-
tinucd The captain witnessed the
singular occurrence, and being, like all
seafaring men, superstitious, he said:
1T strikes me that there is a mean
II.
course
Owing to this the course of the brig
was changed, and by means Of it many
lives were saved. as we have seen.
After this Lilla's pet pigeon was, as
is natural considered most wonderful
bird. and was made the theme of talks
for days after the rescue; while Lila
herself lay Frustrated upon bed OF
sickness. The reaction from despair
Co hope had done what distress had
not been able 20 do, and it was long
before She was well enough to come
UP on deck,
When she did so She was but a shad
DIV of herself; butt youth rallies quickly
and she soon was rs merry and bloom
ing aus before.
Ike captain WI, quite an old man
and his heart warmed towards Lila il
tatherly manner.
Il have son at home," he said tC
her one day, ''who would give his eye:
(, for pigeon like that, pointing to Lii
las pet, which was, as usual percheC
on her shoulder. He's that fond o
studying into the ways Of dumb crea
lures that he's good for nothing else
Not but he's made a good thing of it
for he is now professor of some depart
ment in college which deals in jus
such things He corresponds will
learned men all over the world, and Tn
proud Of him, if do say it whc Shout,
not. He is greatly taken with this kin,
of carricr-pigeon and quite % while az,
Inc let ana educated East Indian tax
home one Of his pet birds, with tn
understanding that he should let hin
loose when he got home and wing hi
way back. bringing my son letter tell